Cristiano Ronaldo admits Sir Alex Ferguson was key to his return to Manchester United.

The Portuguese great's move from Juventus was confirmed yesterday morning.

Ronaldo said: “As everybody knows, since I signed for Manchester [United] at 18, Sir Alex Ferguson was the key.

"I remember when we played against Manchester when I was at Sporting Lisbon. For me, Sir Alex Ferguson is like a father in football for me.

"He helped me a lot, he taught me many things, and in my opinion of course he had a big role because the relationship that we had, we keep in touch all the time, and he's an unbelievable person.

"I really like him a lot and he was the main key for me to be in the position that I am, that I signed for Manchester United."